Shakespeare & Company

Wishlisted by Michelle

To say the least, Shakespeare & Company isn't just a second- hand book trove for the avid reader. Shakespeare & Company is literally a sanctuary for writers, housing (yes, housing) more than 40, 000 writers in over 50 years. These boarders are (struggling) writers who sleep in between of the bookshelves of the store. In return, they are required to read one book a day, help out around the store, and write a one- page autobiography for the shop's archives. These writers are called "Tumbleweeds". The original store, opened by Slyvia Beach was a historical literary landmark in its own right, having writers such as Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Scott F. Fitzgerald and more as frequent visitors to the bookshop. It had to close during the second World War. In 1951, George Whitman opened "Le Mistral", modeled after Slyvia's orginal bookstore. And much like it's predecessor, it became a bohemian haven for book readers and writers, including Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Betrlolt Brecht, William S. Burroughs and more. With Slyvia Beach's permission, Whitman changed the renamed the store Shakespeare & Company after Beach's death on and the 400th birthday of William Shakespeare, in 1964 Today, George Whitman's daughter manages the shop, and host annual literary festivals. They've partnered with a bake shop that allowed them to open a cafe next door.

Bibliophile Stops